It has been a quiet place on social media when it comes to both Leeds United fans, players and anyone else with a connection to the Yorkshire club. The 6-2 humiliation by Manchester United is worsened only by the fact Leeds have to wait seven days until the next match against Burnley – but former players Danny Mills and Jermaine Beckford did post on their stories.
Leeds were shellshocked at Old Trafford as Marcelo Bielsa – famed for his tactics and his unconventional way of doing things – was outclassed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It hurts to say that, but for Leeds fans, many are beginning to move on from the heavy loss and admit that their side simply were way below Manchester Unted’s clinical and tactically superior display.
Scott McTominay had the freedom of Old Trafford, thanks to Bruno Fernandes intelligently drawing Kalvin Phillips away from midfield. It opened up an enormous gap and it saw the Scotland midfielder score twice in the first three minutes. Fernandes also got two, as he so often does – while Dan James and Victor Lindelof also got on the score sheet.
The only positives were Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas scoring goals – the latter’s third of the season and second in two games. But the deserted social media among Leeds players is clearly a sign that things did not go to plan at Old Trafford. Mills and Beckford gave their verdicts on Instagram, though, with Beckford clearly more upbeat following the loss.
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Leeds are next in action against Burnley but the pain from Sunday’s defeat is not only in the scoreline. Cooper limped off with what looked like a muscle injury, leaving Leeds without a recognised senior centre-back – given Robin Koch and Diego Llorente are also out injured.
It remains to be seen the extent of Cooper’s injury, but it may be that Bielsa is forced to turn to Pascal Struijk alongside Luke Ayling – or go for someone slightly more risky, in Leif Davis, Charlie Cresswell or Olly Casey.
